Catherwood LibraryILR School

Portuguese unions led a charge against government imposed austerity measures Thursday during a one-day general strike. Public transportation across the country came to a halt because of the protests, causing extreme traffic jams in Lisbon. Though public discontent is running high as employment has climbed to a record eighteen percent, the strike largely failed to garner support from businesses outside transportation services. The demonstration marks the fourth general strike in Portugal since 2011, when the country accepted a 78 billion euro bailout from the European Union and the IMF.